IMPLEMENTING A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE DEMENTIA SCREENING TOOL FOR FILIPINO PATIENTS

Abstract

Problem Statement: Over an eight-week period for Filipino patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) who speak a Filipino language (Ilokano or Tagalog), does using a culturally appropriate linguistic version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in an outpatient neurology clinic caring for Filipino patients change patients’ diagnostic score for cognitive impairment, compared to the English version’s score?Purpose: To increase the accuracy of cognitive impairment diagnosis. The wide-reaching purpose was to ensure that culturally appropriate screenings are done in outpatient neurological clinical settings. Methods: Clinicians administered the MMSE in English and the Ilokano or Tagalog language. MMSE scores were collected via chart review by the DNP student. Results: MMSE scores generally improved after administering the MMSE in English and then asking questions in Ilokano or Tagalog from incorrect responses of the English MMSE. There was a total of nine patients (n = 9) aged 69 to 92 years old (x̅ = 81.4; M = 84). Of the nine patients, seven patients took both English MMSE and Ilokano MMSE or Tagalog (two patients did not take the English version and a Filipino language version). Discussion: The use of Ilokano and Tagalog screening tools would best serve clinical practices throughout the state due to the population comprising many people with Filipino ancestry. Due to the small number of subjects in this project, further investigation, particularly the impact of various languages represented by the various cultures in Hawai`i, would help in understanding and potentially alleviating language barriers.